LATAM POLITICS TODAY-Survey shows Brazil's Lula enjoys 57% support

During the start of Lula's first term as president in 2003, 45% of those polled gave a favorable opinion.

The latest in Latin American politics on Tuesday:

Five months into latest term, Brazil's Lula at 57% support Brazil's leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva enjoys the support of 57% of Brazilians, according to a survey published by transport association CNT.

The survey's result marks a boost for Lula, as the president is known, as he barely eked out a slim majority over right-wing former President Jair Bolsonaro in last October's runoff vote. Lula was formally inaugurated in January. The poll also showed that 43% gave a favorable opinion to the government, while 47% said they favored Lula's administration over Bolsonaro's.

The level of support for Lula's government, however, is roughly in line with his earlier governments at the beginning of his term. During the start of Lula's first term as president in 2003, 45% of those polled gave a favorable opinion. At the start of his second term, the government's support rose to 50%. Argentina's powerful VP again rules out running for top job

BUENOS AIRES - Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Argentina's current vice president and former president, announced she will not run in October's presidential election, arguing judges would likely disqualify her candidacy due to corruption allegations. The ruling Peronist government of President Alberto Fernandez, no relation to his vice president, is facing a tough battle to fend off a challenge from both the conservative opposition as well as surging libertarian independent Javier Milei.

In a blog post, Fernandez de Kirchner, who served as a firebrand leftist president for two terms from 2007 to 2015, wrote that she will avoid what she dismissed as a "perverse game" while also lashing out at the International Monetary Fund. Honduras trade delegation bound for China this weekend

TEGUCIGALPA - The Honduran government is preparing a delegation of business leaders to travel to China on May 20 to promote exports, a key ruling party lawmaker said in a video shared by the government's press office. The government of leftist President Xiomara Castro is also developing the agenda for her planned trip to China, which may happen in June, according to lawmaker Xiomara Zelaya. The lawmaker is the daughter of the president and her husband, former President Mel Zelaya.

Honduras started diplomatic relations with China in March after ending ties with Taiwan, in a bid for more investment and jobs. Ecuador's Congress begins hearing to remove President Lasso

QUITO - Ecuador's Congress began a hearing to possibly remove President Guillermo Lasso from office, increasing the likelihood that he will dissolve the legislature and call snap presidential and congressional elections. Ninety-two votes from the 137-member assembly are needed to remove Lasso, a conservative former banker, who opposition politicians say disregarded warnings of embezzlement related to a contract at state-owned oil transportation company Flopec.

Lasso denies the accusation.